NCAA Recruiting Dead Period Extended Once Again

In-person recruiting in Division I college sports will extend beyond a year.

The NCAA Division I Council made that official Wednesday, announcing the recruiting dead period that began last March will now stretch through at least May 31 due to continued struggles with the COVID-19 pandemic.

"After careful consideration of all available information, the Council agreed that an extension of the dead period through May 31 was necessary," council chair and Penn athletic director M. Grace Calhoun said in a statement, according to ESPN. "However, there is a strong commitment to use the next several weeks to outline the transition plan back to recruiting activities post June 1 and to provide those plans to prospective student-athletes, their families and the NCAA membership no later than April 15."

The dead period has prevented prospective recruits from meeting with coaches and making official on-campus visits, forcing schools to adjust to virtual tours and forms of communication. If the council allows in-person recruiting to return, college coaches would likely be allowed to attend events this summer.

“While we support the dead period extension, we also note the importance of providing prospective student-athletes immediate guidance on the future of the dead period,” Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee co-chair Justice Littrell said, according to CBS Sports.

After an initial COVID-19 pause, Division II and Division III have been operating under their typical recruiting protocols since September.